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Links| The Tour Along the Equator Quito, Ecuador - Otavalo - Ingapirca - Cuenca |
Quito - Otavalo - Ingapirca - Cuenca
From Quito to Cuenca
8 days / 7 nights
- Highlights
- Full Itinerary
- Price & Contact
View Full Itinerary | Price & Contact
Highlights:
- Quito, the "Patrimony of Mankind"
- Church "La Compania", "San Francisco"
- "Middle of the world" - The northern and southern hemispheres simultaneously
- Natural terrace "Guapulo"
- Calderon
- crater lake visit
- Visit the sights of Cuenca
- The Inca ruins
- Train ride along the legendary "Devil's Nose"
Including:
- 8 Days/7 Nights
- 7 Buffet Breakfasts
- All Transfers**
- SouthAmerica.travel tour guide
Hotels:
- Grand Hotel Mercure Alameda Quito 4****
- Hosteria El Troje 3*** - Otavalo
- Hotel Crespo Cuenca 4****
- Hotel Unipark 4**** - Guayaquil
Day 1: Arrival in Quito
Arrival in Quito. Transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Quito is set in a hollow at the foot of the volcano Pichincha and in addition to its gorgeous landscape, surrounded by hills and several snowcapped mountains, Quito is known for its treasures of Colonial churches, monasteries, paintings, sculptures and carvings and the magnificent blend of Spanish, Flemish, Moorish and pre-Columbian architecture. Therefore in 1978 it has been declared by UNESCO “Patrimony of Mankind”. Altogether the city has to offer 86 churches and monasteries of the 16th and 17th century.
This attractive city is surrounded by ice-capped volcanoes and is located only 22 km away from the “Middle of the World”, the Equatorial Line. Due to its beautiful churches and monasteries, Quito is called and known as the “Convent of America”.Overnight at Grand Hotel Mercure Alameda Quito****.
Day 2: Quito
Buffet breakfast. Today, we will have a sightseeing-tour of the city of
Quito to give you a first impression of the variety there is regarding
religious and cultural
sights. During our stay in the old part of the city, you can still breath
the colonial history of Ecuador. As the excursion leads you through
the
interesting streets of Quito, the local culture welcomes you with beauty
and intrigue. Your guide will take you for a walk through the culturally
diverse history of Quito. Visit the Church of San Francisco (inside)
-which is said to be the first religious building constructed in South
America
by the Spanish. On the way we will pass the church of La Compañia,
which has the most ornate and richly sculptured façade and interior.
Have a closer look at the heart of the city of Quito: the Independence
Square with the Government Palace and the Cathedral (outside).
On the modern part of the city we will see the stone-carved front of Ecuador’s House of Congress, this façade shows the history of Ecuador, since our first natives passing through the conquer of the Incas and then the Spaniards, the Independence and the new Republic. We lead you to Guapulo, a natural terrace where we will learn about the location of the city, on the foothills of the Pichincha Volcano, admire the spectacular views to the Valleys of Cumbayá and Tumbaco and of the Eastern Chain of Mountains.
On a day with clear sky, we can see the Cayambe, the Antizana and Puntas Volcanoes.
Our tour
goes on to the Equatorial Line Monument called “Middle
of the World”. Here
you get a truly rare experience to stand in both, the Northern and
Southern
Hemispheres simultaneously. The Equatorial Monument, located as focal
point of the park, marks the spot where an 18th century French scientific
expedition established the exact position of the Equator. The area
has
been built as a typical colonial town, with restaurants, gift shops
and Post Office with philatelic sales. Visit the monument and the Ethnographical
Museum, which shows the history of the Indian cultures of Ecuador.Overnight
at Grand Hotel Mercure Alameda Quito****.
Day 3: Quito – Otavalo
Buffet breakfast. On the bus ride to the well known spot Otavalo we will
visit the small town of Calderón, where the typical miniature
bread figurines are made. After Calderón the road descends into
the spectacular same-time arid and fertile Guayllabamba gorge and village.
With some luck, a few
minutes later you can enjoy the opportunity of looking out the snow-capped
Cayambe. The Ecuadorian Line goes directly through the glacier of the
immense volcano, which shows the highest worldwide point on the Ecuadorian
line. On the way through this wonderful landscape you can see the Lago
San Pablo with its great background – the rock massive Taita Imbabura.
This is also worth to take a photo.
After arriving in the famous town Otavalo, which consists of rather functional buildings and is not able for its textiles, you will discover the worldwide known Indian handicrafts market. These indigenous residents of the area have achieved economic prosperity as a result of their skill in weaving a tremendous variety of designs in belts, tapestries, ponchos and other clothing items. Community residents have a long tradition as artisans and traders. They commonly travel to Europe and other countries in the Americas to sell their wares. This typical indigenous city where tourists can see families wearing their colorful cloths and speaking Quichua as their first tongue and Spanish as their second, you will enjoy the unique variety of handicrafts that offers this giant colorful market and certainly, carrying some new souvenirs with you. Before continuing to Cotacachi, the group can visit Laguna Cuicocha, which is a crater lake on an altitude of 3000 meters above sea-level with an diameter of about 3 kms. Two islands emerge from the center, both of volcanic origin, covered with vegetation and rimmed with totora, a type of reed. The small town Cotacachi itself is Ecuador’s center of leatherworks. Here you can stroll through the small streets choosing one of the various shops as your favorite. Return to Quito.
Overnight at Grand Hotel Mercure Alameda Quito****.
Day 4: Quito – Riobamba
Buffet breakfast. We lead to the south, along the “Avenue of the
volcanoes”
which got its name from Alexander von Humbold. Using the Panamericana
Sur, which winds its way through the Andean mountain chain you will
have
a spectacular view of the perfect formed snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano,
one of the highest volcanoes of the world. We lead you to a very typical
and original market where you learn about the life of indigenous people.
The market offers a colorful variety of handicrafts, a variety of fruit
and herbs as well as authentic tools and household articles.
You will meat Indians wearing their typical dress, which varies from one
community to the next, selling their products and animals. Beginning at
dawn, they come down the mountains on foot or mule-back or, at times,
in trucks. The atmosphere is very colorful and festive and you will see
people exchanging goods, carrying heavy bags, eating special food and
making their business here as well as jokes. You may test your negotiating
skills in the traditional bargaining and get original crafts, including
tapestries, belts, baskets and a whole range of clothing and jewelry.
Transfer on to Otavalo. Overnight
at Hosteria El Troje***.
Day 5: Alausi with Train Ride “Devil's Nose” –
Cuenca
Continental Breakfast. After the early breakfast we take you to Guamote.
Our destination is the train-station to board the “autoferro” or
train for a ride along the legendary “Devils Nose”. This
is certainly one of the highlights of a journey through Ecuador and
a very special way to
get to know the country!
Either
inside the train wagons or just on the roof of the train, you will
enjoy the spectacular descent to the coastal plain.
You will be amazed
about the fascinating landscape and the technical mastery performance,
that makes possible that since the very beginning of the 20th
century,
the topographic obstacles could be get over. In 1908 president Eloy
Alfaro’s
dream of a connection between the coast and the highlands became true
and after only a short time this line was called the most beautiful
track. We begin the approximately 3 hours drive to the City of
Cuenca. After arriving in Cuenca, we check in at our hotel and
enjoy a pleasant evening passing the experiences of the last
days in review.
Overnight at Hotel Crespo Cuenca****.
Day 6: Cuenca
American breakfast. After breakfast, we will visit the sights of Cuenca,
the third largest city of Ecuador. In Cuenca, founded in 1557 on an
Inca settlement valley,
you still breath the colonial air of Ecuadorian history. For most Ecuadorian
inhabitants – and also for travelers – this center of art,
ceramic, panama hats as well as products of silver and gold is the
most
beautiful city in Ecuador.
Due
to the special atmosphere and early 19th century architecture Cuenca
was declared “Cultural Patrimony of Mankind” in November
1999. During the city sightseeing we will show you the historical buildings,
located along the Tomebamba River, the “Todos los Santos”
ruins, the flowers market and the main square with the old and new Cathedral.
There is still enough time to visit some typical towns around Cuenca
as
well as a Panama hat factory. The afternoon will be at leisure. You may
walk around the narrow cobble stoned streets with the whitewashed houses
and nobel fassades to explore
the beauty of this town on your own.
Overnight atHotel Crespo Cuenca****.
Day 7: Cuenca – Ingapirca – Guayaquil
American breakfast. This day, our first destination are the Inca ruins
of Ingapirca, the most important monument of pre-Spanish culture in
Ecuador. The ruins are located
on a grass-covered hill in an altitude of about 3.100 m. Even before
the construction of the sun-temple (1450-1480) this place had an important
spiritual significance for the Incas. In 1470, Yupanqui, the king of
the Inca subjugated the local Cañari tribe and presumably built
the town of Ingapirca.
On a walk through the former place where the Incas lived and hold their ceremonies, you will learn about their beliefs and rituals as well as about the way they constructed this ordination place, which is formed like a puma. The ruins rest on a moonlit high plateau that falls in its three sides to a deep, clear and wide valley. We continue to Guayaquil. In a very short time you will feel how weather, vegetation, architecture and also the people change. During a short panoramic tour along the biggest city of Ecuador, you will get an impression of the “economic and financial center” of the country.
Overnight at Hotel Unipark****.
Day 8: Guayaquil – International flight
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to the airport and return flight or continuation
on anouther tour through South America.
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